Sergeant William P. Rudd 3/75

[Ranger]

Killed in action October 5, 2008
Operation Iraqi Freedom

Sergeant Wiliam P. Rudd was killed in action on Oct. 5, 2008, when he was hit by enemy fire during combat operations in northern Iraq while serving with Company B, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment based at Fort Benning, Ga. He was born Nov. 5, 1980, in Madisonvile, Kentucky. He was wounded in a ground assault raid targeting associates of senior Al Qaeda leader when enemy fighters, some armed with suicide vests, engaged the U.S. forces with small arms fire.

This was Sergeant Rudd’s eighth deployment in support of the War on Terrorism with two previous deployments to Afghanistan and five to Iraq. He volunteered and enlisted in the Army on Oct. 2, 2003. After completion of the one station unit training, he volunteered for service as an Army Ranger and completed the Ranger Indoctrination Program at Fort Benning. Sergeant Rudd was assigned to Company B on Aug. 9, 2004, where he served as a rifleman, grenadier, and fire team leader.

Sergeant Rudd completed numerous military courses while serving in the Army, including the Basic Airborne Course, the Ranger Indoctrination Program, the Warrior Leaders Course, the Jumpmaster Course, the Master Breacher Course, and the U.S. Army Ranger Course.

His awards and decorations include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge and the Ranger Tab.

Sergeant Rudd is survived by his father, William E. and stepmother, Barbara Rudd, and step brother, Josh of Madisonvile, Ky.; his mother, Pamela Lam and sister, Elizabeth of Nortonvile, Ky.

As a Ranger, Sergeant Rudd distinguished himself as a member of the Army’s premier light infantry unit, traveled to all corners of the world in support of the Global War on Terrorism and fought valiantly to “uphold the prestige, honor and high ‘esprit de corps’” of the Ranger Regiment.


RIP Ranger Rudd
RLTW